Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
In reaction to current realities bedeveling the polity, as regard which region gets the next presidency, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has noted that the leadership of the country should be mutually complimentary to guarantee betterment of Nigeria.
Towards achieving this, Tambuwal therefore observed that no group of people or region has the monopoly to govern Nigeria.
“Leadership of the country is mutually complimentary as Nigeria belongs to every Nigerian, and no one will send anyone out of the country, hence the need to remain together for the betterment of the country”
Bearing this in mind, Tambuwal warned that nobody should allocate leadership of Nigeria to any religion or tribe to the exclusion of other people.
Speaking when the Christain Association Of Nigeria (CAN) President, Rev Ayo Olakunle Samson paid him a courtesy visit in Sokoto Government House, Tambuwal called on all and sundry to see beyond pecuniary interest and work towards ensuring continued existence of the country above all.
Suggesting the kind of leader that is best for Nigeria, Tambuwal said he or she must be someone that understands the issues of diversities and is inclusive in his approach to governance, without tribal or religious sentiments.
Recalling that both Islam and Christianity have been coexisting even before the amalgamation of Nigeria, Tambuwal said, “Those who know history said Christianity and Islam belong to the same root,” stressing that “Jerusalem and Damascus” were examples of places where the two religions are being practiced side by side.
”There is the need for us to continue practicing the teaching of the two religions as ordained by God. If we go by the real teachings of the two religions, there would’nt be any reason to fight one another” Tambuwal assured.
While commending the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 and the CAN President for their relentless efforts in preaching peace and unity in Nigeria, Tambuwal said Sokoto State is home to every Nigerian irrespective of religious, tribal or ethnic differences.
Towards ensuring unity, Tambuwal said all non indigenes in Sokoto who attend public schools are exempted from paying fees same way indigenes of the state enjoy free education.
A statement by Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Muhammad Bello quoted the governor as saying the State government’s Zakkat and Waqaf Commission pays medical bills of indigent Nigerians resident in the state side by side those of the less privileged state indigenes.
In his remarks, the CAN President, Rev. Olasupo, said he was in Sokoto to interact with the Sultanate, the government and people of the state on how to find solutions to the security challenges being faced in the country.
Calling on Muslins and Christians to live in harmony, Rev. Olasupo condoled the people of the state over the loss of lives occasioned by the unfortunate incidencies of bandits attack in some communities of the state.